KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The new Kissimmee Civilian Police Oversight Board held their first meeting on Thursday morning in an effort to prioritize accountability for Kissimmee Police Department in the years to come.
The board’s main focus is partnering with law enforcement to review police policies and procedures. The board is made up of seven members: Chair Manuel Ortega, Vice Chair R. Lewayne Johnson, Verian Jeffers, Amber Craft, Norisibet Rodriguez, Michele Lebron, and Angel Ramos.
“It’s more of a responsibility to take, but I’m looking forward to it,” Ortega said. “Just to be able to contribute back to the community based on my experience as a police officer. I’ve always been interested in police work. Plus, now that I’m a civilian, how the police interact with the community, the transparency, the accountability, the trust that we have to have between the police and the community.”…